It looks like I might get a chance to use my
SkyWatcher EQ6 Pro Mount in a couple of days. I only got a brief introduction to it early this past summer and since then I haven't used it at all (very sad). I got this mount for Astrophotography and my initial impression was that it looks like it's a very capable goto mount.
I have a Celestron 9.25 telescope that I had initially tried on top of the EQ6 Pro, and the mount seemed to handle it very well. It should actually handle a lot more telescope than that. I am also using a Skywatcher ED80 refractor.
The biggest thing I need to do is fine tune my polar alignment process. I have more luck drift aligning it right after I do a few iterative runs to get the alignment close than I do using the polar scope in the mount. I don't exactly have a good shot at the sky to perform a great drift alignment, but drift aligning the mount gives me the best results.
I might try and post a few pictures of my EQ6 Pro Mount in the next few days. It's quite large and no light weight, but it looks quite attractive with its white colouring. Once could almost say professional.
Here are some specs for the EQ6;
- Positioning Accuracy up to 1 arc minute. Accuracy enhanced by software collimation error (mount mechanical error) compensation.
- Stepper motors with 1.8° step angle and 64 micro steps driven.
- Slewing speed up to 3.4°/sec (800X).
- Auto Guider Interface for astro-photography.
- Guiding speed selectable from 0.25X, 0.50X, 0.75X, or 1X.
- Object database containing complete Messier, NGC, and IC catalogues.
- Minimal vibration for steady long-exposure photography.
- Periodic Error Correction.
- PC compatibility.
- Upgradeable hand control via internet download.
- Tripod: Stainless Steel Legs
- Counterweight Shaft Diameter: 1.8cm
- Counterweight Shaft Length: 28.5cm
- Mount Weight (without counterweight): 16Kgs
- Mount Height: 41cm
- Total weight: 23.5kgs (without counterweights)
- Motor Type: Microstep driven 1.8 degree stepper motors
- Motor Resolution: 0.144 arc sec (or 9.024,000 steps/rev.)
- Power Supply: 11 to 15 V DC 2Amp (Tip positive)
- Gear Ratio: 705
- *13" Dovetail Bar
- SynScan Hand Control
01-19-2008
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